We talked today in class about reaching our highest point in
life, which is ultimately the peak of every humans being life, complete
happiness. As Aristotle would call it "Living well and doing well."
However, what is living well and doing well? What is living a life worthwhile?
A life worthwhile is a life that you don’t have to worry about anything at all. You
can live life carefree and do as you please financially because you are living
well. I think everyone's definition of living a life worthwhile is different
and it's hard for me to not think of "happiness" as a feeling, but as
I read over and over a piece from the book "Happiness is not how one
happens to feel at any moment, but the quality of one's life as a whole. “I
think I got what Aristotle was saying, that being successful and being well
taking care of is the goal of mankind as a whole. A person character can also be
excellent and can reach the highest point in life not just ethical virtue alone.
To me it seems like only a few people actually reach that point in life of
happiness fully and the rest just settle and be content with the lives that
they have, not ever reach the highest point in life which they would like to
reach. "Quality" which is one of the words Aristotle use to describe “eduaimonia”,
is a high level of value or excellent by definition, meaning to me you will not
have complete happiness until you have reach that point in life that is
satisfying as a whole to yourself. Satisfying to the point everything is taking
care of so you will have complete happiness. What is complete happiness? Can
one really reach that highest point in life of complete happiness?
I appreciate that you bring attention to the word "quality" in regard to happiness. If we do as Aristotle does, and define happiness as human flourishing rather than simply emotional elation, then quality of life becomes the focal point of most conversations about happiness. While Aristotle would say that resources do not necessarily guarantee happiness, he does admit that for certain individuals to obtain any satisfaction in their achievements resources are sometimes invaluable. I agree with your point that very few individuals ever obtain everything that would satisfy them, and I think you're implying that "sustainable" happiness is the goal of most people. I can imagine ways to constantly feel "good", but none of these methods are sustainable without serious consequence, so it seems that happiness must be gained responsibly.
ReplyDeleteI suppose that to be perfectly happy a person would have to experience a constant state of Euphoria that does not hinder their cognition, responsibility, or ambition. I personally am not aware of any method to achieve this though, and I'd be curious to know if anyone does.
Happiness is not a goal but a way of life, many of us strive our whole life looking for the next thing that will make us happy. Some say I will be happy when I complete this goal, but once they complete it it is never good enough and they have to make another goal. Happiness in my opinion is not a goal it is being content and making the best of the present moment. Everyone thinks that they will find happiness in something in their life, but my belief is I can be happy right now just by being who I am, enjoying the people I am with, and loving the life I have. Happiness comes from inside us, we just have to unlock it.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty hard for me to not think of happiness as a feeling, too. I don't think we could ever manage feeling 100% virtuous or kind or good all the time. Like Peyton said above, it's just not sustainable. I think the most we could ever manage is to walk through life with a sense of peace 60% of the time, if we're really lucky. That, to me, would be a good life. Just feeling ok--not even necessarily happy in the feeling way, just content--with where you are in life.
ReplyDeleteMoney and health and time to think and read and experience thing probably help a ton in being happy (and virtuous too, probably, if we then have the extra cash and time and energy to go out of our way to do good deeds), but I personally think we can achieve it just with a lot of therapy and accepting ourselves.